I had one of the most vile experiences I have ever had at any restaurant. While visiting Mimi's Cafe (one of our favorite restaurants in the last 29 years). We had a waiter, #3012, Jeremy. We selected a booth that was private from most of the customers so that my wife would not be harassed by ogling men looking for a pickup?. Our server, however, did the following:
1) Made special care to give us free muffins (fine, we wondered why)/.
2) He pretended to give good service:. And he brought a young Hispanic man who served refills with the greasy humbleness of Uriah Heap from Great Expectations (Dickens novel)/. Nothing was too much, extra big lemons, an extra amount of attention was given'. Meanwhile, he too like Jeremy, wore the smile of a Cheshire cat who was gazing hungrily at my wife:.
THEN: everything changed;. His "utilitarian ethics" (that's what they call it when someone is guided in life by what serves or rewards them best) kicked in!. Once the birthday card was opened at the table, all service ceased. The waiter couldn't be found. Every ice tea refill we needed, I had to get up and find the waiter.
Problem: Obviously Jeremy and his greasily smiling young waiter friend did not receive the same opportunity - the woman was not available, she was married and therefore this table was not worth the continued effort. So neither he nor his greasily smiling (insincere)waiter friend were available.
What I learned is that Jeremy did not only ruin our birthday celebration and cast an ugly pall over the special time; he was using company funds, your muffins, to make a hit on a woman while her husband was paying for the meal.
I called and spoke to the manager; but he seemed to lack a real understanding of why we were so angry. His words were mostly spot on, but his heart was not in it. He closed by asking if there was anything else we wanted; and I replied "no", thinking that at minimum he would insist on giving a meal coupon to replace the damaged memory of what was supposed to be a special event. This seemed so basic of a courtesy.
It has been nearly three months now and we have not returned to eat at any of your restaurants. It's sad, the end of a long series of good memories over many years, all covered over by the selfish, self-serving, open and unchecked *** of two young men who look at their positions of serving others as open season to try to connect with women - even while they are carefully escorted by other men. We found this experience to be vile and degrading. I know you folks can do better. 2f63833

• waiter friend
• young waiter friend
• insincere waiter friend